Browsing: Navy

Afternoon military-themed sports links, from Annapolis to New Zealand via an aircraft carrier: Brand awareness gone wrong. When you’ve got an early-season college basketball game on a neutral court, chances are you’ve got a name attached. Maybe it’s a bank. Maybe it’s a tourism board. Maybe it’s a charity. Regardless, somebody’s going to have a logo on the court. The Quicken Loans Carrier Classic in November aboard the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson was no exception. But a Michigan State player slipped on a sticker during the game, triggering new questions about the change in surface texture that players on sponsored…

Three quick hits for a Thursday while you review your summer swim safety techniques: 1. Stann speaks. Straight from “The All-American” himself: No one is more disappointed than I, meant the world to headline a UFC, seperated shoulder, rehab will start tomorrow, back asap, apologies — Brian Stann (@BrianStann) June 6, 2012 Stann will miss his scheduled main-event middleweight fight with Hector Lombard, set for Aug. 4 in Los Angeles. The UFC’s web site now lists Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Brandon Vera as the main event at 205 pounds. Reports have Lombard facing Tim Boetsch at UFC 149 in July,…

A brief recap: Eugene Ely piloted his Curtiss Hudson Flier off the scout cruiser Birmingham on Nov. 14, 1910, to usher in the era of naval aviation. Then, for a century, important stuff happened. It’s all here, if you’re curious. After 100 years or so, things got a little dull. It was time to use the embodiment of American force projection, the aircraft carrier, for something a little less important. Something that put form over function. Something ridiculous on its face, but good for morale — think golfing on the moon, but with a sponsor. The Quicken Loans Carrier Classic…

It’s the day after the unofficial start of summer. So, time for football news: 1. Singleton still a standout. As part of a 2007 Navy offense that included Eric Kettani, Shun White and Tyree Barnes, slotback Zerbin Singleton managed 484 yards rushing and a team-high 263 yards receiving. Those numbers may earn him a spot in the Navy’s media guide, but not in the annals of military history. Don’t worry — he’s got that covered. Marine 1st Lt. Singleton recently became the last in a long line of CH-46 pilots; the “Phrog,” in service since Vietnam, is being phased out.…

Navy cornerback David Sperry, who was third among Midshipmen with 70 tackles last season and earned an honorable mention spot on at least one All-Independent team, is no longer at the academy, according to multiple reports. A May 18 Washington Examiner report, citing Maryland court records, says Sperry faces charges for failing to obey a reasonable and lawful order — charges the Naval Academy would not comment on, according to the report. A report posted Wednesday on CapitalGazette.com does not mention any criminal charges, instead citing “multiple sources” that said Sperry tested positive for spice, a synthetic drug that mimics…

The death of former West Virginia football coach Bill Stewart on Monday brought about many tributes and remembrances, many with a common theme — mourning the loss of “a true Mountaineer” and “a rock-solid West Virginian.” Stewart was born in West Virginia and died on a golf course in that state nearly 60 years later of an apparent heart attack. But his coaching career — which ended in 2010 after a decade with WVU, including three years in the top job — took him all over the place, with stops in Arizona, Canada, North Carolina, and on the sidelines of…

Three quick hits for a Monday afternoon: 1. Clark’s dad: He didn’t know. The news broke Friday and The Associated Press picked it up Saturday: Senior Air Force running back Asher Clark, second on the Falcons’ all-time rushing list, is no longer at the school, reportedly after being part of an academy investigation into illegal drug use. Sunday, Frank Schwab at The (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Gazette gave the Clark family’s side of the story via Asher’s father, Mark, who said his son thought he was smoking tobacco at a March 2011 party when in fact he’d been given a pipe…

A few football items for a Thursday, while we try to come up with some more sports that can be played on an aircraft carrier: 1. New concussion study: A must-read here, and it’s not good — scientists studying the autopsied brains of four combat veterans found “evidence of a progressive degenerative brain disorder known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a disease found in recent years among deceased professional football players who had suffered multiple concussions.” CTE symptoms include memory loss and suicidal thoughts, and the disorder can lead to dementia, according to the report. Researchers have said CTE likely…

A few service academy-related football notes to start off your week: 1. Praise from high places: We promised you updates on Air Force 2nd Lt. Ben Garland’s quest for an NFL job with the Denver Broncos, so we pass this along from Frank Schwab at The (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Gazette. Denver head coach John Fox offered some short remarks on Garland’s stellar work ethic during a post-rookie workout news conference late last week. Judging from the picture in that first link, the Air Force Academy grad’s strength and conditioning won’t be an issue. 2. Conference calamity: Speaking of early outs,…

The Sporting News just released its ranking of all 124 college football coaches. It gives new meaning to the word “complete.” Also, possibly new meaning to the word “long.” We’ll simplify for you service academy football fans: Air Force gets bragging rights, with head coach Troy Calhoun checking in at No. 29. Navy’s Ken Niumatalolo checks in at No. 35, while Army’s Rich Ellerson rounds out the academy pack at 79. The SN folks don’t spell out their methodology, but if you went by traditional metrics — you know, like their records from last year — you’d have the same…